The Eye-Opening Lesson of an October Night

It was a chilly evening in late October, and I can still hear the wind whistling against the windows of our family car as my mom drove us home. The roads glistened with rain under the faint glow of streetlights, and everything felt quiet and ordinary—until it wasn’t.

We were just a block from home when it happened. A car tore through a red light, skidding as the driver fumbled to regain control. It was clear they hadn’t been paying attention—later, we’d find out they had been texting. Their vehicle smashed into the back passenger side of our car, sending us spinning in a sickening blur. The crunch of metal on metal and the acrid smell of burnt rubber are memories I’ll never forget. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt, but the experience shook me. It wasn’t just the shock of the accident—it was knowing how easily it could have been avoided if the other driver had simply made a safer choice.

That night stayed with me, but it wasn’t until years later, when I sat behind the wheel for the first time with my learner’s permit, that it truly hit me. My mom’s words from that night echoed in my head: “Driving is a privilege, not a right. And with that privilege comes responsibility.” It was a responsibility I was suddenly very aware of—a responsibility that could mean the difference between life and death.

Driver education is a crucial piece of this puzzle, even if it’s often treated as a box to check before getting a license. It’s more than learning how to parallel park or follow traffic signs; it’s about building habits that ensure safety—not just for you, but for everyone on the road. Lessons in defensive driving, hazard anticipation, and traffic law compliance can seem tedious when you’re eager to hit the road, but they lay the foundation for becoming a responsible driver. Still, not everyone takes these lessons seriously, and as a result, countless people have had far worse October nights than mine. Irresponsible driving isn’t always as blatant as texting or speeding. Sometimes, it’s something as small as not signaling before changing lanes or tailgating someone in traffic. These little mistakes add up, and they’re responsible for countless accidents every year. The truth is, driving carelessly doesn’t just put the driver at risk; it endangers everyone around them.

So how do we reduce the number of deaths related to driving? How do we make sure that people are aware of the dangers they pose to themselves and others if they don’t drive safely?

Firstly, traffic laws need to be strictly enforced. When penalties for distracted or reckless driving are lenient or often nonexistent, they don’t serve as effective deterrents. Being more meticulous about the consequences of dangerous behaviors, like texting while driving or driving under the influence, can make people think twice before taking risks.

Furthermore, I believe that we need to rework our system of driver education. While learning to stop at a red light or navigate a roundabout is important, real-world driving is far more nuanced and doesn’t always follow the straightforward rules of the road taught in driving school. I remember the fear and terror that gripped me during my first time on the road when a driver started tailgating me even though I was going only 2 mph under the speed limit and was driving in the rightmost lane. Nothing in my driver’s course had ever taught me how to deal with a situation like that. Thankfully, Mom was in the car with me and carefully instructed me to keep calm and let the car pass in front of me before continuing as I was. This cemented my belief that in addition to the basics of traffic laws, students need to learn defensive driving techniques, experience simulations for adverse weather conditions, and be taught lessons on how to deal with aggressive drivers. Preparing students for these situations can often make a great difference in road safety.

However, no matter how much preparation our instructors may give us, at the end of the day it’s up to each of us to hold ourselves accountable. To make the roads just a little bit safer, I made a promise to never let distractions take my focus off the road. I’ve since made small but meaningful changes, like silencing my phone and assigning a passenger to handle navigation or music. I also try to stay patient and courteous, even when traffic is frustrating. These steps may seem insignificant, but they remind me that every choice I make behind the wheel contributes to the safety of not only myself but everyone sharing the road with me.

Looking back on that October night, I feel lucky. The accident could have ended so much worse, and it was a stark reminder of how fragile life is. Every time I get behind the wheel, I carry that memory with me. It drives me to be more focused, more careful, and more committed to safety—not just for myself, but for everyone else on the road. Driving isn’t just about getting from point A to point B. It’s about doing so responsibly, ensuring that everyone—drivers, passengers, and pedestrians alike—arrives safely. Through better education, stricter enforcement, and individual accountability, we can reduce the number of lives lost on the road. It all starts with one choice, one habit, one decision at a time. For me, it starts with just one rumble of the ignition.